Australian Hospital Statistics 2001-02 is the latest in the Institute's series of reports summarising data on Australia's hospitals. For the first time, information on trends in hospital care is presented in an easy-to-follow 'Hospitals at a glance' section. Detailed information is also presented on the characteristics and hospital care of the six million people admitted to public and private hospitals, including their age, sex, diagnoses and the procedures they underwent. Information on Australia's hospitals includes the number of hospitals and hospital beds, and key statistics on the resources, expenditure and revenue of public hospitals and on the services they provide. Data on a range of hospital performance indicators are also reported using the National Health Performance Committee's performance indicator framework. This report is a useful resource for health planners, administrators and researchers with an interest in the Australian hospital system.